Drinkers in Soho who relieve themselves in public are being warned they will be hit with a “nasty surprise” thanks to Westminster City Council’s newly installed ‘pee paint’.
The paint, which is being sprayed onto walls in London’s famous night-life area, creates a water-repellent layer so that urine and other liquid bounces back onto anyone who decides to urinate in public, “leaving them soaked”, the council said.
Westminster City Council is installing the pee paint in the worst affected areas in Soho as the party season kicks off ahead of Christmas, with five further locations to be painted in the new year.
The crackdown comes after incidents of public urination in central London increased significantly since Covid restrictions were lifed. Urination clean-up is costing the council nearly £950,000 a year.
Residents have also noticed the increase, with Soho resident Lucy saying she feels “personally violated”.
“Having to walk past men peeing in the street particularly at night, it does not feel safe.
“Wading through streams of wee to get to my front door is not pleasant, no one can argue that this is acceptable wherever you live and people have a responsibility use the facilities in the bar or club before they leave.”
Westminster City Council is working with waste services Veolia, local businesses and City Inspectors who will be issuing written warnings, Community Protection Notices and Fixed Penalty Notices.
Inspectors have already begun dishing out penalty fines to anyone caught urinating in public, the council said.
“It is an absolute disgrace that long-suffering residents have to put up with tourists using Soho as their personal toilet,” said Councillor Patrick Lilley.
“If someone did their business outside your front door, I’m sure you’d feel the same. The anti-pee paint, combined with the community protection notices should teach those perpetrators a lesson.
“There are plenty of public toilets within Westminster that are open late and free of charge that visitors can use instead of relieving themselves in the street.
“If you get caught in the act, be prepared to face the consequences."
A map showing the location and opening hours for free toilets has been updated helping visitors to use the correct facilities.
The pee paint has been used in other hotspots across London including Brixton and Shoreditch.
